Definition
Runway is the single most important financial metric for early-stage startups. It determines how much time a founder has to hit milestones, raise funding, or reach profitability. GitDealFlow tracks engineering activity, which accelerates 3-6 weeks before a fundraise — a sign that the founding team is racing against their runway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Runway?
Runway is the amount of time a startup can continue operating at its current burn rate before exhausting its cash reserves. It's typically expressed in months.
What's a healthy runway?
Most VCs want to see 12-18 months of runway after a fundraise. Less than 6 months is a red flag — it suggests the startup will be forced to fundraise on unfavorable terms.
How does GitDealFlow relate to runway?
Startups with limited runway accelerate engineering output dramatically — GitDealFlow catches this as a commit velocity spike 3-6 weeks before a fundraise announcement.